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August 3, 2011 · Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) · N723DR

Northway, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Northway, AK
Aircraft
Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
Tail Number
N723DR
Operator
Copper Valley Air Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC11TA079

The pilot stated that during the landing roll he noticed a problem with the tailwheel. After he unloaded the passengers, he realized that the tailwheel casting had broken and the tailwheel spindle and fork had separated from the airframe. He inspected the landing area and noticed that he had hit a 4-inch bank of dirt that he had not seen in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage bulkhead.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to identify unsuitable terrain for landing and subsequent contact with a dirt mound, resulting in the separation of the tailwheel from the airframe.

Full Narrative

On August 3, 2011, about 0950 Alaska daylight time, a deHavilland DHC-2 airplane, N723DR, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing approximately 40 miles south of Northway, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by Copper Valley Air Service, LLC, Glennallen, Alaska, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight, under contract to the U.S. National Parks Service (NPS). The pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The public use flight originated at the Gulkana Airport, Glennallen, Alaska about 0830. The purpose of the flight was to transport NPS employees to a remote site to take water samples and do a site survey. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot stated that during the landing, as the airplane was coming to a stop, he noticed a problem with the tailwheel. After he unloaded the passengers, he realized that the tailwheel casting had broken, and the tailwheel spindle and fork had separated from the airframe. He inspected the landing area, and noticed that he had hit a small, 4-inch, bank of dirt in the grass that he had not seen. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector discovered substantial damage the aft fuselage bulkhead.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:50 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)
Tail NumberN723DR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCopper Valley Air Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985 SERIES · Reciprocating · 450
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data